Vermont School Safety Center
Audit Title
Performance Audit: Efficacy of the Vermont School Safety Center's Oversight of All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs)
Objective:
To determine whether the Vermont School Safety Center (VSSC) has established and implemented a robust and effective process to ensure school supervisory unions/districts are in compliance with statutory requirements (e.g., Act 29 of 2023) to adopt, review, update, and adequately train on high-quality All-Hazards EOPs.
Scope:
Review the VSSC's policies, procedures, and oversight activities concerning EOP compliance and quality assurance for a period covering the two most recent school years. Review a statistical sample of EOPs and drill reports submitted by schools to the VSSC.
Key Audit Areas and Procedures
Compliance Monitoring:
Test VSSC records to determine if all school sites are tracked for mandatory annual review/update and documented collaboration with first responders.
EOP Quality Assurance & Adequacy:
Assess the consistency and adequacy of the VSSC's EOP template and review guidance. For a sample of EOPs, assess if VSSC staff correctly identified deficiencies and whether follow-up procedures ensured corrective action by the school.
Training and Drill Effectiveness:
Evaluate if the VSSC systematically gathers and analyzes data from required biannual drill reports to identify statewide trends, best practices, and systemic weaknesses in response protocols.
Expected Value of the Audit:
Provides accountability by evaluating if the state-mandated school safety program is actually achieving its goal. It identifies systemic weaknesses in EOP quality, training, and compliance enforcement, ensuring alignment with high-profile state priorities and statutory requirements.